Visit A River Never Sleeps, preferred Fly Fishing Site Hosts

A River Never Sleeps pages about Fly Fishing in Western Canada are linked below

Know Bear Habitat
You may avoid bear encounters by using caution in certain vegetation types or habitats. Preferred bear food sources include: white bark pine nuts, berries, moth larvae and other insect sites, spawning fish in streams, roots, Forbes and carrion. Backcountry users should avoid areas with fresh bear sign.



In poor food years, bears are more likely to range over larger areas in search of food. In addition, these hungry bears may seek out human food sources such as garbage, game carcasses, or camps.

Bears will often sleep during the day in dense timber. Bears disturbed in their "day beds" are often surprised by your sudden appearance and will sometimes charge. Never surprise a bear!

Bears like berries, so try and avoid large brush patches. If you have to travel through a patch, watch it for a while before going in and make some noise to let any bears know you are coming.

While Fishing
Avoid fishing alone. Travel in pairs whenever possible. Learn to recognize bear sign and avoid areas with fresh scat, diggings, tracks or carcasses.

Be cautious in dense timber or brush along creeks.

If you see or smell a carcass or gut pile, don't investigate it, make a wide circle around it.

People who use horses usually have fewer problems with bears.

Always remain alert, especially at the end of a long day.

Carry bear repellent pepper spray.

Most injuries occur when a bear is surprised at close quarters.

The Campsite

Do not sleep or have a sleeping area set up within 100 yards of any wildlife carcass or part of a wildlife carcass.

Cook at least 100 yards away from sleeping areas.

Poles, boxes and barrels have been provided at many campgrounds, trailheads and backcountry campsites. Maps of the locations of these structures can be obtained at the nearest Ranger Station, trailhead host or on bulletin boards.

Please remove all food and garbage from the boxes and barrels and leave them clean when leaving the campsite. Abandoned foods and garbage will attract bears, putting the next user of the camp in danger.

Storing Food

All food and beverages; including canned food, pop, beer, garbage, grease, processed livestock or pet food, and scented or flavored toiletries (toothpaste, chapstick) must be stored unavailable to bears at night and when unattended during the day. Never bury garbage. Store it as you would
food and pack it out.

Attractants must be hung at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from any vertical support or stored inside an approved bear resistant container. The following are considered "bear resistant": cars, pickup cabs, enclosed horse trailers, hard sided campers, or camper shells. Food should be stored out of sight in vehicles. Coolers, pop-up campers and tents are NOT considered bear resistant!

All wildlife carcasses or parts of carcasses must be stored like food, but the point of storage must be at least 100 yards from any sleeping area, trail or recreation site and preferably down wind.

Encounters

The decisions you make and the actions you take when you encounter a bear can greatly affect the outcome of the situation. Keeping a cool head and knowing your options are very important.

If You Encounter a Bear

First try to slowly back out of the situation. Keep calm, avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly and speak in a soft monotone voice. Never turn your back to the bear and never kneel down. Most encounters end with the bear leaving the area. Stay close together if in a group.

NEVER RUN, and do not try to climb a tree unless you are sure you can climb to at least 10 feet before the bear reaches you. Remember, you cannot out run a bear!

Climbing a tree may not work for black bears as they are agile climbers.

Bear repellent pepper spray has proven very effective in warding off charging bears. It is available at most sporting goods stores in the area. Have it available and know how to use it.

As a last resort, play dead. Curl into a ball or lie flat, covering your neck and head with your hands and arms. If you have a backpack, leave it on as it will help protect your back. If the bear swats at you, roll with it.

Stay face down and do not look at the bear until you are sure it is gone. Many people have survived bear attacks using this method.

If you kill a grizzly bear in self-defense, there will be a thorough investigation. Remember, grizzlies are protected species and unwarranted killings can result in criminal charges. Unnecessary killing of grizzly bears contributes to their decline.

Report all bear encounters to the RCMP, no matter how insignificant. Your report may help wildlife managers prevent further conflicts.

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Cougar Safety Tips

While cougars are generally shy and elusive animals and rarely attack humans, a hungry cougar may come into contact with people during its search for food, usually in the hours between dusk until dawn when cougars are most active. Cougars primarily prey on deer, but will also feed on elk, rabbits, beaver, grouse, and occasionally livestock and household pets.
If a cougar is encountered it will likely run away, however the following steps should be taken in the event that an encounter does occur:

1. Never run or turn your back on a cougar.
2. Always watch the cougar and know where it is.
3. Give the cougar room to escape.
4. Pick up nearby children and small household pets.
5. Raise your arms to look bigger.
6. Act aggressively, and if possible throw rocks or sticks at the cougar.

All cougar sightings in residential and semi-rural areas should be immediately reported to the Conservation Officer Service during office hours, or by calling 1-800-663-WILD (1-800-663-9453).
(From the B.C. Ministry of Environment)

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Hypothermia

Hypothermia can be a threat even in the summer if you are in a high elevation. Snow can fall in August on some Alpine Lakes.

Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature drops significantly below the normal body temperature. If you notice hypothermia symptoms, stop immediately and take action. Change into dry clothes, build a fire, make a warm drink. Solve the problem before it becomes an emergency.

Symptoms to look for:
-Intense shivering; slowing of pace, poor coordination, ability to perform complex tasks.
- Shivering persists, stumbling, thickness of speech, sluggish thinking, feeling of deep cold or numbness.
- Shivering decreases. Disorientation. Stiffening of muscles, jerky movements.
- Exhaustion, hallucinations and inability to get up after rest. Thinking not
clear but can maintain posture. Blueness of skin. Decreased heart and respiratory rate.
- Dilation of pupils. Weak or irregular pulse. Stupor. Unconsciousness; does not respond to spoken word; most reflexes cease to function; heart-beat becomes erratic.
- Failure of cardiac and respiratory control centers in the brain; cardiac fibrillation; probable edema and hemorrhage in lungs; apparent death.

Body Temperature	Symptoms
98.6 - 95.0F	Intense shivering; slowing of pace, poor coordination, ability to perform complex tasks impaired.
95.0 - 91.4F	Shivering persists, stumbling, thickness of speech, sluggish thinking, feeling of deep cold or numbness. Shivering decreases.
91.4 - 87.8F	Disorientation. Stiffening of muscles,jerky movements. Exhaustion, hallucinations and inability to get up after rest. Thinking not clear but can maintain posture.
87.8 - 85.2F	Blueness of skin. Decreased heart and respiratory rate. Dilation of pupils. Weak or irregular pulse. Stupor.
85.2 - 78.8F	Unconsciousness; does not respond to spoken word; most reflexes cease to function; heart-beat becomes erratic.
78.8 F	Failure of cardiac and respiratory control centers in the brain; cardiac fibrillation; probable edema and hemorrhage in lungs; apparent death.

Treatment
Remove from further exposure to the cold. Remove wet clothing. Start a fire. Re-warm with dry clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, etc. Make a warm drink, but no alcohol! Alcohol dilates blood vessels near the skin causing further heat loss. If treatment is not effective and members of your party are unaffected, have someone go for help.

Severe Hypothermia
This is a severe emergency. If the person is incoherent, stiff or unconscious, you need medical help now! Don't place the victim in a sleeping bag alone. Their body has lost the ability to produce enough heat to warm the bag. Have someone get in the bag with the victim to apply skin-to-skin contact. Warm (not hot) rocks or canteens of water can help . If the victim is able to eat, give them sweet foods or candy. Try to keep the victim awake. DO NOT rub the victim’s body or limbs in an effort to warm him. Cold coagulated blood might be pushed through the body and cause heart failure. DO NOT elevate the victims legs. Elevating the legs could overwork the victims heart. DO NOT administer CPR. CPR can kill a hypothermia victim.

Preventing Hypothermia
The keys to avoiding hypothermia are; staying warm, staying dry and eating the right foods.

Visit A River Never Sleeps, preferred Fly Fishing Site Hosts

A River Never Sleeps pages about Fly Fishing in Western Canada are linked below